I am with the Mayor on this one…Read and decide yourself.

I am with the Mayor on this issue, I believe it to be important for Alexandria..

But it’s up to you to decide.

Alex

Message from Mayor Roy:

 

Dear All:
 
Our City is at an important policy juncture.  Attached are two items I humbly ask you to read.  The executive summary should be read first—and is the shorter read of the two. 
 
Tomorrow night at 5:00 p.m., the Council will consider the zoning of a critical catalytic project in S.P.A.R.C., again, and any support you may give, or dialogue on the subject matter, is appreciated.  I was asked to veto the ordinance by council members who originally voted for the more restrictive zoning.  Of the handful of people who spoke against the project, several contacted me to express support and that they felt they did not have the accurate picture of this project. 
 
The reasons attached compel a serious read and discussion for our community if we are to move forward together.
 
It is my sincere wish, and I believe it possible, that the Council President will offer another amendment to allow the original ordinance to move forward and negate any need for a veto.  In exchange, we will ensure, as was always the plan, that the commercial development drives this car.
 
Please respond to my economic development office at moed@cityofalex.com, if you wish to…

 
Thank you for caring about Alexandria.
 
 

Jacques M. Roy
Mayor, City of Alexandria
Post Office Box 71
Alexandria, Louisiana 71309-0071
(318) 449-5000

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=1222f1c8faa92a1a&mt=application%2Fpdf

 

http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.2&thid=1222f1c8faa92a1a&mt=application%2Fpdf

Elvis, Janis, Jim and Michael…Lets move on…..

Elvis Presley, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Michael Jackson are dead. 

I could list many more as gifted  and as self destructive..

They were  each talented human beings, no more, no less.

 Similar circumstances of death…

(Now there will be a lot of vultures coming out to make money and pick his carcass..”I was molested by”, etc……………But that’s show biz, baby!)

Lets move on.

There is real news in the world. 

They are where ever you go… when you lead a life as they each did.

 OK?

Alex

The Bentley Hotel. Some facts and photos.

Hotel Bentley 1908

In keeping with my effort to talk about constructive and important things in Alexandria , my mind focused on the Hotel Bentley.

Over and over everyone interested in historic preservation mentions the Bentley Hotel .

If you know any history of Alexandria at all, most of you are familiar with the story of old “Joe Bentley”

How after being refused service at one of the local hotel dining rooms, because he was in his shirtsleeves, he proclaimed that he would build the best damn hotel in the south.

He did.. That building stands today as a monument to his spirit.  Empty—looted of many of its original interior furnishings.

One way you could look at it , is that.. it is in a way being held for ransom by its current owner.

After studying its past, I thought it would be nice  to show what this grand hotel looked like when it was built in 1908.

I am in favor of this building becoming a multi-use monument to Joseph A. Bentley’s memory.

If it can ever become untangled in its political and greedy undercurrent.

 It will futher fall into the pit of no return… if not.
 

Let’s look at it’s beginning in 1908.  Taking a brief tour with pictures from the Buddy Tudor collection. 

No cost was spared by Joe Bentley in building this building. Only the best was used from all over the United States.

 

From 1908 opening day folder.

 Only the best marble and granite was used. Decorative construction was done by known artist of the time period.

 

The inside of the hotel was breathtaking.

The front desk. 1908

The main staircase was more impressive then… than today.

The main staircase 1908

  This was just a regular bedroom suite.

1908 bedroom. Hotel Bentley.

Remember these photographs were taken from the 1908 opening  of this grand hotel.

Barber shop. Bentley Hotel 1908.

Do you want to see more? I have even more fantastic photographs that I will publish if you are interested.

The Bridal or honeymoon suite, the writing or what would be know today as media room, etc.

Bridal Suite Bedroom. 1908

                                 Joseph A. Bentley

The original beauty of the Bentley was beyond description.

 

We are going to lose it if, as my dear ole dad use to say, “we dont quit assing around!”

Its up to you and everyone else reading this.

Put pressure on anyone connected with the Bentley, let them know how you feel!

It is a prime multi-use building!

Visit

 historicbentley.com

for more information.

That is a site put up by the Louisiana History Museum and the Alexandria-retrospective web site.

What more can I do???

Alex

 

 

Sneak peak at the “Red River” display at Louisiana History Museum.

I received a press release from the Louisiana History Museum,  Monday about a scale model of a river steamer that once plied the rivers between here and New Orleans. It was built by a man from Pineville by the name of Richard  Guidroz. I was fortunate enough to take several exclusive advance pictures of it.

Steamer "Red River"

The pictures do not come close to capturing the detail. The boat model goes on display Tuesday June 9th. 

It is 44 inches long, 12 inches wide and 16 inches tall.

All I can say is “WOW.”

Back view "Red River"

Front view "Red River"

And people say there is nothing to see in Alexandria. To coin a phrase,   “Everyone is missing the boat!”

You can spend two hours in there and not see it all.

The Louisiana History Museum

503 Washington Street

Across 5th Street from the Rapides Parish Library.

FREE ADMISSION.

They are open Tuesday -Saturday  10 am to 3:30 pm.

Alexandria’s history is there as well as the state… I  am impressed, you will be to!

Visit their web site….   louisianahistorymuseum.org

Alex